Building Colleges for the Future Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much has been spent on each project under the Building Colleges for the Future programme in each year since its inception;
	(2)  how much has been spent on the Building Colleges for the Future programme in each region in each year since the programme's inception;
	(3)  how many Building Colleges for the Future projects which have cleared the application in detail stage  (a) have been completed and  (b) are under way.

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of expenditure incurred by further education and sixth form colleges on capital building projects  (a) in advance of the feasibility stage,  (b) between the feasibility stage and an approval in principle and  (c) between an approval in principle and an approval in detail since 1997;
	(2)  which colleges had received funding from the Learning and Skills Council in advance of an approval in principle for a capital building project at the latest date for which information is available.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for further education colleges is administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to records held by the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Members with the information requested. A copy of his letters will be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 900W, on departmental bank services, what the monetary value is of his Department's contract with Deutsche Bank.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has not made any payments to date to Deutsche bank under their contract as Sales Arranger for the Student Loan Sales Programme.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1095W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended  (a) foreign language lessons,  (b) the Cabinet Committees course,  (c) the European Union course and  (d) the media training course; in what foreign languages Ministers received lessons; and how much each of these courses cost.

Si�n Simon: Of the four courses referred to in my earlier answer the Cabinet Committee courses and European Union courses incurred no cost to the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills. The other two courses referred to in my earlier answer were foreign language lessons and media training. These cost 1,343 and 1,276 respectively.
	Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Foreign Students: USA

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what changes have been made to the rules in respect of financial support for British students travelling to the US since the Prime Minister's article in  T he Wall Street Journal on 16 April 2008.

David Lammy: The Prime Minister said,
	I can give a commitment that British students who need financial support to pay the travel costs of taking up a term of study in the U.S. will receive that support.
	The provisions for eligible students travelling to the USA are as follows:
	A grant for travel is available to eligible students in respect of reasonable expenditure which they are obliged to incur in a qualifying quarter of their course, for the purpose of taking up a term of study at an overseas institution including one in the USA. A qualifying quarter is one in which the student is required to attend the overseas institution for at least half the length of the period covered by that quarter.
	The grant for travel meets the costs of:
	travel within and outside the UK in order to attend the university or college including airfares
	medical insurance for treatment provided outside the United Kingdom
	visas required to attend the overseas institution
	medical costs incurred to meet a mandatory condition of entry into a country (e.g. vaccination costs).
	Except for the first 295 of travel costs incurred, eligible students from households with incomes of up to 39,796 may be entitled to have all their reasonable travel related expenditure met by the grant for travel. Income over 39,796 is taken into account and reduces the amount of travel related expenditure that the grant will cover. Income is taken into account at the rate of 1 for each 9.27 over 39,796, subject to a maximum income contribution of 6,210.
	DIUS has responsibility for higher education in England only. The devolved Administrations have responsibility for it in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Further Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55W, on capital investment (further education colleges), whether colleges which have not yet received approval will be required to redesign capital funding projects in order to receive funding.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has already begun discussing options for prioritisation with the further education sector. Once the consultation is complete, the LSC will advise on options. Until that process is complete, it is not possible to say whether capital projects will be required to be redesigned. But the potential impact on college projects including the need for redesign will be considered fully when the LSC comes forward with proposals.

Nuclear Engineering: Higher Education

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1902W, on engineering: higher education, for how many  (a) masters level and  (b) doctoral nuclear engineering course places commencing in 2009 is funding available.

David Lammy: Data at the level of detail requested by this question are not collected centrally. The following table sets out the overall numbers of chemical, process and energy engineering students at English higher education institutions over the last five years which would include nuclear engineering students. Data for 2009 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Academic year  Masters  Doctorates 
			 2003/04 935 605 
			 2004/05 865 645 
			 2005/06 870 630 
			 2006/07 920 665 
			 2007/08 725 865 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  2 Covers enrolments of all domiciles to both full-time and part-time courses.  3 Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of subject over the time series.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 27 November 2008,  Official Report, column 666W, on departmental training, whether he has taken any personal training courses since that date.

Gordon Brown: No.

Ministers: Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1137W, on Ministers: pay, how many Ministers have received severance pay in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and have been re-appointed to a Ministerial position  (a) subsequently in the same Parliament and  (b) in a subsequent Parliament.

Gordon Brown: Details of all Ministers since 1997 are contained in editions of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, and in the press notices of ministerial appointments issued by my Office.

National Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on the National Security Forum, what assessment he made of the merits of obtaining expertise in civil nuclear security when selecting members of the National Security Forum.

Gordon Brown: The Forum members bring a breadth of experience and varied perspectives to the Government's thinking about national security. Where appropriate, Forum members will also be encouraged to call on selected experts outside Government for advice, support and specialist research.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1888W, on departmental training, which Ministers have attended the Action Learning Set course; and what the cost of the course was.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of the course was 500.
	Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Tourism: South West

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 461-2W, on tourism: South West, how much of the 3.5 million will have been provided to each regional development agency between 2008 and 2011;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1340-1W, on tourism: South West, how much of the 3.5 million funding was allocated to each regional development agency.

Barbara Follett: holding answers 18 and 23 March 2009
	Funding for regional development agencies (RDAs) is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. However, in each year since 2003-04, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has contributed 3.6 million to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (DBERR's) Single Programme budget (the Single Pot) in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight RDAs outside London.
	The Single Pot, which will total approximately 2.2 billion, 2.2 billion and 2.1 billion in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively, is allocated among the RDAs by DBERR. DCMS's contribution will be 3.5 million, 3.4 million and 3.3 million in these years.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, how many staff who were paid  (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 and  (b) over 100,000 a year were employed by the (i) Disability Rights Commission, (ii) Equal Opportunities Commission and (iii) Commission for Racial Equality in their last full year of existence.

Maria Eagle: The total number of staff employed by each of the legacy commissions in their last full year of existence (2006-07) and who were  (a) paid between 50,000 and 100,00 and  (b) paid over 100,000 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   (a) paid between 50,000 and 100,000  (b) paid over 100,000 
			 (i) Disability Rights Commission 11 1 
			 (ii)Equal Opportunities Commission 7 1 
			 (iii) Commission for Racial Equality 13 1

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, what the staffing costs are for each department of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Maria Eagle: The staff costs for 2008-09 by Directorate within the Equality and Human Rights Commission is shown as follows. This information is the best estimate available.
	
		
			   Total (000) 
			 Corporate Management 6,240 
			 Commissioners Office 1,238 
			 Communications 5,498 
			 Legal 3,612 
			 Strategy and Research 3,993 
			 Scotland 1,303 
			 Transition Team 464 
			 Wales 1,255 
			 Totals 23,603

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, how many staff of the Equality and Human Rights Commission are paid  (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 and  (b) over 100,000 a year.

Maria Eagle: As of 31 March 2009, the number of staff employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission paid:
	 (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 was 28; and
	 (b) over 100,000 was three.

Armed Forces Pay Review Body

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 53W, on Armed Forces Pay Review Body, from which budgets he plans to allocate the funding for that component of the pay award which is in excess of his Department's planning assumptions of 2.5 per cent. referred to at paragraph 2.13 of the 2009 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

John Hutton: The MOD's planning assumption included a 2.5 per cent. pay bill increase in 2009-10; 2 per cent. for the core pay settlement and 0.5 per cent. for targeted measures. The Armed Forces Pay Review Body's recommendations, which were accepted in full, provide for a 2.8 per cent. core pay settlement and 0.5 per cent. for targeted measures, bringing the total award to 3.3 per cent. Provision for the additional 0.8 per cent. above the planning assumption, which equates to some 65 million, has been generated from within the Defence programme as a whole during the current planning round.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 563-64W, on armed forces: housing, how many service family accommodation units are maintained by Modern Housing Solutions in each  (a) region and  (b) area.

Kevan Jones: Modern Housing Solutions (MHS) as at 31 March 2009 were responsible for the repair and maintenance of service family accommodation (SFA) properties in the following locations.
	
		
			  MHS Region  Area  Number of SFA 
			 East Brampton 763 
			  Chicksands 852 
			  Colchester 1,024 
			  Coltishall 42 
			  Cottesmore 1,488 
			  Marham 898 
			  Thetford 512 
			  Wattisham 798 
			 East total  6,377 
			 Central Abingdon 1,494 
			  Brize Norton 1,067 
			  Bushey 1,055 
			  High Wycombe 1,301 
			  Kingston 1,374 
			  Uxbridge 806 
			  Woolwich 338 
			 Central total  7,435 
			
			 North Boulmer 213 
			  Catterick 2,212 
			  Waddington 1,649 
			  York 1,307 
			 North total  5,381 
			
			 South East Aldershot 3,773 
			  Arborfield 1,390 
			  Brompton 689 
			  Folkestone 733 
			  Gosport 1,827 
			  Portsmouth 1,210 
			 South East total  9,622 
			
			 South West Bovington 1,105 
			  Colerne 370 
			  Helston 571 
			  Larkhill 4,212 
			  Lympstone 629 
			  Lyneham 1,241 
			  Plymouth 1,175 
			  Warminster 989 
			 South West total  10,292 
			 West Chester 403 
			  Haverfordwest 194 
			  Hereford 646 
			  St. Athan 708 
			  Telford 1,561 
			  Weeton 349 
			 West total  3,861

Defence: International Co-operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Devon of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 426, on defence: international co-operation, what steps have been taken to increase interoperability between countries  (a) operating aircraft carriers and  (b) with naval vessels able to support carrier operations.

John Hutton: The Royal Navy regularly identifies opportunities at the tactical and operational level to increase interoperability with foreign navies.
	The European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII) draws together European nations with operational aircraft carriers or with naval vessels capable of supporting carrier operations. This initiative seeks to improve interoperability between European navies for national, NATO or EU-led operations. The inaugural Steering Group for ECGII met in Paris on 18 March 2009.
	The UK Carrier Strike Group Commander and his staff regularly liaise and train with the US Navy at both a tactical and operational level. The UK also has a Long Lead Skills programme with the US Navy, which is developing essential personnel skill-sets in advance of the arrival of Carrier Vehicular (Future).
	It is routine procedure for warships of close allies to integrate into each others Carrier Strike Group deployments, as demonstrated last year with the integration of the US, French and Spanish warships into the RN's Orion 08 deployment led by HMS Illustrious, and HMS Manchester's integration into the US Carrier Strike Group.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department plans to reply to the letter of 3 March 2009 from the hon. Member for Billericay and the hon. Member for Norwich North requesting a meeting on the subject of nuclear test veterans.

Kevan Jones: I met with the hon. Member and representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on Monday 20 April 2009. My hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) was unable to attend.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 424W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, with whom the national contract for providing medium and heavy helicopter lift is placed.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 424W. The UK currently supplements the NATO ISAF Contracted Air Transport with a national contract through SkyLink Aviation.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1366W, on Hercules aircraft, how many platforms were factored into the figure of 15,680 flying hours for the 2008-09 financial year.

Quentin Davies: The figure of 15,680 flying hours related to the period 1 April 2008 to 31 January 2009 and was achieved by a total of 23 Hercules C-130J aircraft.

Pakistan: Al Qaeda

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any official in his Department was given notice by any representative of  (a) the Pakistan government and  (b) the US administration of the US air strike on the village of Ali Khel on or before 22 November 2008.

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence was not given notice by the Pakistani government or the US Administration of the reported air strike on Ali Khel on or before 22 November 2008.

Warships: Construction

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 647, on the warship construction programme, what the tonnage of the warship construction programme will be.

Quentin Davies: The approximate tonnage of each class of warship currently under construction, and their combined total, is provided in the table:
	
		
			  Class of vessel  Displacement per vessel (tonnes)  Planned number of vessels per class  Total tonnage of class 
			 Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers (CVF) 65,000 (full displacement) 2 130,000 
			 Type 45 Daring Class destroyers (1)8,100 (mid-mission, mid-life full displacement) 6 48,600 
			 Astute Class attack submarines 7,800 (full displacement when dived) (2)7 54,600 
			 Total tonnage   233,200 
			 (1) The Type 45 tonnage will change throughout the ship's life due largely to the adoption of an incremental capability approach. Mid-life, mid-mission tonnage has been chosen as a representative figure. (2) Our current plans are for a total class of seven boats. 
		
	
	The Future Surface Combatant and successor programmes also form part of the warship construction programme but are at an early phase in the design process, and decisions on final design have yet to be taken.

Warships: Construction

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Oral Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 16, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the UK has the largest programme under way since the end of the First World War in respect of naval construction.

Quentin Davies: I specified in my statement that it related to peacetime construction. I made this statement on the basis of real terms expenditure.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; what estimate he has made of the (A) outturn cost and (B) completion date of each such project which is ongoing; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 251380, tabled on 22 January 2009, on ICT projects; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not hold a current comprehensive list of ICT projects at the level of detail requested. This could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	However, DEFRA has provided some related information to previous questions. The hon. Member is referred to the following answers:
	(a) The hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 9 February 2005,  Official Report, column 1500W;
	(b) The hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 2 December 2005,  Official Report, column 869W;
	(c) The hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1276W; and
	(d) The hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 12 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1226-27W.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which ICT projects his Department and its predecessors initiated and abandoned before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred in each project; who the contractors for each were; on what date each was  (a) commenced and  (b) abandoned; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 251392, tabled on 22 January 2009, on ICT projects; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not hold a current comprehensive list of ICT projects at the level of detail requested. This could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the hon. Member is referred to the response my Department provided to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 17 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1516-17W. No further ICT projects and programmes have been cancelled since that response.

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 332-4W, on redundancy, how many staff left his Department under staff exit schemes with a severance package worth  (a) between 100,000 and 125,000,  (b) between 125,001 and 150,000,  (c) between 150,001 and 200,000,  (d) between 200,001 and 250,000,  (e) between 250,001 and 500,000,  (f) between 500,001 and 1,000,000 and  (g) over 1,000,000 in each year since 2005-06.

Huw Irranca-Davies: As a result of structural changes to the Department and to meet cross-Government targets to reduce headcount within Departments DEFRA has managed the exit of a number of staff over recent years. The initial investment in reducing the headcount will lead to significantly reduced future pay costs on staff.
	These included both voluntary and involuntary leavers to whom payments were made. As is common to other Government Departments, the structures of these payments were based on the rules contained within the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	For staff leaving on compulsory or flexible early severance terms, or in receipt of a statutory redundancy payment, the size of the package represents the lump sum compensation payment made.
	For staff leaving on compulsory, flexible or approved early retirement terms, the size of the package includes:
	any lump sum compensation payment made on departure (compulsory terms only);
	the capitalised cost of paying a pension or annual compensation payment (ACP) before pension age;
	the cost of any pension enhancement (compulsory and flexible terms only) and the cost of bringing forward the payment of the pension lump sum (for those in classic).
	These figures are therefore the initial provision for the early departure liabilities caused by the staff's departures and include any cash payments made during the period.
	Packages also include any payments made on an ex gratia basis.
	 Breakdown of figures
	The split of the 245 voluntary leavers and two involuntary leavers who had severance packages of over 100,000 in the last three financial years is:
	
		
			  Voluntary leavers 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			  Pay range  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER 
			 100,000-125,000 1 4 5 4 14 33 20 41 
			 125,001-150,000  4 3 8 4 21 7 33 
			 150,001-200,000  9 4 12 14 38 18 59 
			 200,001-250,000  7 2 5 5 14 7 26 
			 250,001-500,000 1 2 4 3 6 16 11 21 
			 500,001-1,000,000  11  2 
			  
			 Voluntary total 2 27 18 32 43 123 63 182 
		
	
	
		
			  Involuntary leavers 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			  Pay range  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER 
			 100,000-125,000 1  1  
			 150,001-200,000  1  1 
			  
			 Involuntary total 1 1 1 1

Floods: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1127W, on floods: Essex, 
	(1)  which of the schemes in the Essex catchment area which have received funding in the last 12 months for  (a) flood prevention and  (b) river maintenance are scheduled to (i) receive further funding over the next five years and (ii) how much funding each scheme will be allocated in each case;
	(2)  which river maintenance schemes in the Essex catchment area have received funding from his Department in the last 12 months; and how much was spent on each such scheme;
	(3)  which flood protection schemes in the Essex catchment area have received funding from his Department in the last 12 months; and how much was spent on each such scheme in that period.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 31 March 2009
	During the financial year 2008-09, the Environment Agency has spent the following on constructing new, and refurbishing existing flood defences in Essex:
	9.32 millionJaywick;
	0.65 millionCanvey Island;
	0.27 millionTilbury;
	0.16 milliondeveloping schemes for Brightlingsea and Great Wakering;
	2.62 millionon over 30 smaller tidal and river defence schemes.
	4.67 million has been spent during 2008-09 on the general maintenance of river and tidal defences in Essex by the Anglian Eastern Area of the Environment Agency. Work has been carried out across the county at many locations, covering routine maintenance and one-off repairs to defences and structures, and is not broken down into specific schemes.
	The following Capital Flood Defence schemes in the Essex Catchment have received funding during 2008-09 and will continue into the next five years. Based on our current plans, funding will be allocated to the following projects over the period 2009 to 2014 in the amounts indicated:
	2.8 millionBrightlingsea;
	11.2 millionGreat Wakering;
	0.7 millionHolland Sluice;
	0.3 millionThames Tidal Defences;
	0.8 millionTilbury Barrier;
	0.02 millionJaywick.
	In addition to the above, 4.27 million has been allocated to schemes for maintenance of river and tidal defences in 2009-10. Future years' maintenance is likely to be funded to a similar figure.
	 Source
	The Environment Agency's Capital Works database

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 30 January 2009, on farmers producing more food.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 March 2009
	I wrote to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 2 April 2009.

Power Stations: EU Law

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1330W, on power stations: EC law, which existing power stations decided to  (a) operate within the emissions trading scheme under the National Emission Reduction Plan,  (b) comply with emission limit values and  (c) opt out by committing to limit their hours of operation.

Jane Kennedy: I am arranging for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of recipients of the Christmas bonus will get the additional 60 between  (a) 1 and 15 January,  (b) 16 and 31 January,  (c) 1 and 15 February,  (d) 16 and 28 February,  (e) 1 and 15 March and  (f) 16 and 31 March 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The answer is in the following table:
	
		
			  Actual and forecast volumes for additional 60 payment 
			  2009  Volume payments to be made  Percentage of forecasted total 
			 1 to 15 January 12,175,120 81.94 
			 16 to 31 January 41,630 00.28 
			 1 to 15 February 49,390 00.33 
			 16 to 28 February 1,302,100 08.76 
			 1 to 15 March 1,289,700 08.69 
			 16 to 31 March (1)0 0 
			 (1) Exceptionally some payments may be issued clerically after  15 March 2009.   Notes:  1. All payment figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. As of 9 February 2009 DWP have issued 12,231,904 payments.  3. The total volume of payments forecast to be made is 14,857,929.   Source: Special Payment Programme weekly review document 11 February 2009.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1636-38W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The tables outline the page impressions for each of the websites maintained by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	
		
			  Table A: Websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions where the Department is responsible for the content 
			   Department for Work and Pensions  Jobcentre Plus  The Pension Service  Child Support Agency 
			 March 2008 4,438,340 250,206,608 2,885,226 653,089 
			 April 2008 4,890,895 279,358,470 n/a 693,879 
			 May 2008 4,632,534 250,206,608 n/a 623,741 
			 June 2008 5,467,135 290,661,873 n/a 710,818 
			 July 2008 5,481,316 302,481,658 2,792,047 703,331 
			 August 2008 4,823,111 271,781,484 2,545,342 669,090 
			 September 2008 5,255,207 308,875,532 2,815,695 753,074 
			 October 2008 5,840,085 302,104,417 2,954,131 770,977 
			 November 2008 5,675,631 266,874,017 3,155,462 721,481 
			 December 2008 4,578,694 179,521,943 2,159,900 550,725 
			 January 2009 7,693,486 350,647,463 3,820,139 901,912 
			 February 2009 6,311,548 298,532,534 3,137,296 741,673 
		
	
	
		
			   Directgov Carers  Directgov Disability  Directgov over 50s  Directgov Jobs and Skills Search 
			 March 2008 307,581 1,300,776 438,118 15,812,733 
			 April 2008 327,393 1,434,791 434,884 23,791,855 
			 May 2008 279,429 1,164,606 294,965 19,269,288 
			 June 2008 315,728 1,243,904 321,516 22,951,946 
			 July 2008 321,083 1,291,101 336,221 25,937,505 
			 August 2008 298,200 1,206,271 349,620 21,188,100 
			 September 2008 331,579 1,321,886 389,937 23,803,716 
			 October 2008 357,209 1,390,235 400,452 24,721,075 
			 November 2008 357,971 1,300,776 416,613 22,366,816 
			 December 2008 265,159 1,434,791 304,269 n/a 
			 January 2009 472,298 1,300,776 678,359 21,320,809 
			 February 2009  1,434,791 565,034 60,402,038 
		
	
	
		
			   Age Positive  Office for Disability Issues  European Social Fund  Health and Safety Executive 
			 March 2008 53,692 46,370 57,495 10,152,266 
			 April 2008 64,450 52,021 35,240 8,676,657 
			 May 2008 77,281 57,474 58,541 7,727,433 
			 June 2008 85,586 53,154 63,781 8,040,120 
			 July 2008 67,995 58,098 48,604 7,447,961! 
			 August 2008 49,610 48,873 51,520 6,349,379 
			 September 2008 47,653 n/a 57,699 8,300,273 
			 October 2008 35,517 51,951 54,395 9,440,699 
			 November 2008 33,739 49,760 62,070 8,543,091 
			 December 2008 28,350 57,367 44,399 6,165,509 
			 January 2009 35,569 57,772 53,056 8,199,968 
			 February 2009 35,529  50,377 8,174,915 
		
	
	
		
			   Now Let's Talk Money 
			 March 2008 8,942 
			 April 2008 54,134 
			 May 2008 57,875 
			 June 2008 70,747 
			 July 2008 72,566 
			 August 2008 74,288 
			 September 2008 50,868 
			 October 2008 53,651 
			 November 2008 47,490 
			 December 2008 42,658 
			 January 2009 39,042 
			 February 2009 37,122 
			 n/a = Not available 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions where the Department is not responsible for the content 
			   Independent Case Examiner  Industrial injuries Advisory Council  Social Security Advisory Council 
			 March 2008 22,636 18,915 17,399 
			 April 2008 24,112 18,911 18,403 
			 May 2008 24,328 19,293 20,187 
			 June 2008 24,046 18,202 18,561 
			 July 2008 25,047 18,395 18,166 
			 August 2008 26,334 18,488 18,631 
			 September 2008 20,945 16,534 17,356 
			 October 2008 20,229 16,764 17,036 
			 November 2008 23,312 18,587 45,590 
			 December 2008 29,862 17,903 18,453 
			 January 2009 29,862 19,055 19,755 
			 February 2009 23,345 17,811 17,807

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 626W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of the new  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited in each year since 2005-06.

Jonathan R Shaw: The overall pay bill cost for permanent and temporary staff employed by the Department in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08 is published in the departmental report 2008. We are unable to identify the costs of newly recruited staff or agency staff without incurring disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his contribution of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 176, on Woolworths, how many people made redundant from Woolworths as a result of its closure have found work through Jobcentre Plus.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking, pursuant to his contribution of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 176 on Woolworths how many people made redundant from Woolworths as a result of its closure have found work through Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	We do not have comprehensive information on the numbers of people made redundant from Woolworths who have found work through Jobcentre Plus as we do not record job outcomes achieved for former employees of particular employers: to do so would be prohibitively expensive. We do however know that large numbers of people who worked in Woolworths have found new work with Jobcentre Plus' help. In the retail sector, the skills, experience and knowledge of former Woolworths' employees have proven attractive to new employers.
	Our support for Woolworths' staff began with deployment of our Rapid Response Service, which meant for example that staff in almost all of Woolworths' stores were offered support before they closed. We issued over 8,000 packs to enable people to make claims for benefit, and in many instances provided on-site advice on benefits. Our advice and support on jobsearch has also been available to Woolworths' employees, both in the run up to store closure and afterwards.

Jobseeker's Allowance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1995W, on jobseeker's allowance, how many claimants were paid UK contribution-based jobseeker's allowance by the Employment Service in each EU member state in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on such payments to claimants in each EU member state.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available.

Members: Correspondence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Independent Case Examiner plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 6 August, 29 September, 21 October and 20 November 2008 and 16 February 2009 sent on behalf of his constituent, Mr. A Siegel; and when the Secretary of State expects the matter raised in the correspondence to be resolved.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Independent Case Examiner's office last wrote to the hon. Member on 9 December 2008 asking for further details of Mr. Siegel and his complaint, to enable them to provide an answer to the issues raised. They have no record of having received a reply. The Independent Case Examiner's office contacted the Member's constituency secretary on 31 March 2009 to request details of his letter of 16 February 2009. The Independent Case Examiner's office will write to the hon. Member separately to progress matters.

Unemployment Benefits

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 94W, on unemployment benefits 
	(1)  whether his Department holds any elements of the information requested;
	(2)  for what reasons the information requested is not available.

Tony McNulty: Any such estimates could be collated only at disproportionate cost. This is because the Department holds records of people who have signed on but does not, and cannot, hold records of people who have not signed on, whatever their reason for not signing on may be.

Association of Chief Police Officers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has paid to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in each year since 2000; for what purpose; what restrictions apply to the use of the money; what discussions she has had since January 2008 with the President of ACPO; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has provided funding for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) since 1997.
	In addition to an annual grant in aid payment, the Home Office has made regular payments to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to fund a number of specific projects or in support of initiatives that are best delivered by those with professional police experience. All the grants are prescribed only for the project or use specified. From the information currently held by the Department, the payments made to ACPO since 2006-07 have been listed as an annex to this response.
	The Home Secretary and I meet Sir Ken Jones, the current President of ACPO, regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the projects in which ACPO are involved. This is in addition to frequent telephone conversations and joint attendance at conferences and events. Formal notes of these meetings are not available to place in the House Library.
	
		
			  Home Office payments to ACPO 
			   Financial year  
			  Project  2006-07 ()  2007-08 ()  2008-09 ()  Detail( 1) 
			 Grant Aid 836,232 836,232 836,232 To meet the costs of the ACPO president and part of the ACPO office costs 
			  
			 ACIST 2,988,115   To fund the ACPO Change and Implementation Support Team 
			  
			 Criminal Records project 110,000 110,000 110,000 UK Central Authority for exchange of criminal records 
			  
			 Operation Sycamore 700,000   Investigation into prostitution project 
			  
			 Community Tensions project 60,000 60,000 82,172 To fund the ACPO National Community Tensions Team 
			  
			 Domestic Extremism project 2,000,000, 2,000,000, 2,000,000, To fund the ACPO Domestic Extremism Team 
			  
			 Disaster Victims Identification 253,128 314,296 216,060 To fund the ACPO UK DIVI Management Team 
			  
			 Stockwell project  230,000  Learning lessons of the Stockwell incident 
			  
			 Drugs Conference   10,000 Contribution to ACPO conference 
			 Cannabis cultivation   40,000 Funding part of the costs of a co-ordinator 
			  
			 Wildlife crime 15,367 15,367 150,000 Funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit 
			  
			 Vehicle Intelligence   100,000 Funding for ACPO Vehicle Intelligence Service 
			  
			 Car Parking 200,000 185,000 130,000 Funding for ACPO Safer Car parking Scheme 
			  
			 Co-ordination of Counter-Terrorism policing  5,300,664 4,000,000 Funds the national co-ordination functions: the National Coordinator of Special Branch, media liaison work, CT training needs analysis and the police contribution to the Border Management programme. 
			  
			 Prevent  355,586 1,159,500 Prevent Channel project 
			  
			 Prevent   4,705,810 Prevent policing 
			  
			 Protective Services  60,600 189,400 Co-ordination costs 
			  
			 Level 2  2,000,000  Level 2 project 
			  
			 Operation Overt  268,581  PNICC work on the air terrorist action 
			  
			 RIUs 8,000,000 8,000,000  Setting up regional intelligence units 
			  
			 Policing the Olympics   220,000 Co-ordinating work 
			  
			 Prisoner Intelligence Network 948,665 3,841,899 4,598,961 Support funding for programme 
			  
			 AVCIS (ACPO vehicle crime intelligence service)  420,000  Organised vehicle crime investigation 
			  
			 AVCISTruckPol  50,000  Freight crime intelligence service 
			  
			 ACPO Drugs CBA 10,000 10,000  Contribution to ACPO organised drugs conference 
			  
			 Operation Cube (ACRO) 450,000 0 0 DNA analysis 
			  
			 Operation Element (National Community Tension Team)  200,000 170,000 NCTTOperation Element (2007-08 funding) 
			  
			 Knife Crime 0 0 81,250 Knife Crime 100,000 funding approximately agreed for 8 months (mid-September 2008 to mid-May 2009) 
			  
			 Domestic violence posters 0 0 4,690 Domestic violence awareness campaign. Grant agreement signedfunding awaited 
			  
			 Total 14,571,507 22,258,225 16,804,075  
			 (1) Funding allocated for these purposes only.

Binyam Mohamed

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Binyam Mohamed applied for asylum on his arrival to the UK on 23 February 2009; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: It is the policy of successive Governments not to discuss the immigration status of individuals. However, as with any foreign national, consideration will be given as to whether their presence in the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good and, as always, all appropriate steps will be taken to protect national security.

Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many IRIS pilot schemes were operational on 28 February 2009.

Phil Woolas: The IRIS scheme was operational at 10 locations on 28 February 2009.

Departmental Absenteeism

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of her Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate she has made of the (i) cost to her Department and (ii) number of working hours lost due to such absence; and what guidance her Department issued to staff in respect of absence on these days.

Phil Woolas: The disruption caused by the extreme weather conditions on 2 and 3 February this year caused severe difficulty for many Home Office staff travelling to and from work.
	As a result guidance was provided to line managers to remind them that they should consider sympathetically circumstances where staff were unable to report for work or have had to leave early due to severe travel disruption. This guidance reflected existing departmental arrangements on travel disruptions set out in the Staff Handbook. These arrangements provide for situations where staff experience unavoidable travel delays due to travel disruption or other exceptional circumstances which may mean they are either late for work or are unable to attend work. In these circumstances those staff that use the departmental flexi time system may be given a credit to compensate for travel delays. Depending on circumstances, other staff might not be required to make up time lost.
	It was left to managers to decide locally whether the provisions allowed for in the Staff Handbook should be applied in individual cases. Records of the number of staff who were not able to attend work on 2 and 3 February as a result of the disruption to the transport system were not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For the same reason it is also not possible to provide an estimate of the cost to the Department or the total number of working hours that were lost.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 259W, on departmental procurement, how much was paid to  (a) the Labour party,  (b) Biometrix,  (c) Information Risk Management plc,  (d) Good Relations Ltd. and  (e) Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go in 2007-08; and for what purpose in each case.

Phil Woolas: Based on the purchase order data held in the Home Department's financial database, the details of the payments made to  (a) the Labour party,  (b) Biometix  (c) Information Risk Management plc,  (d) Good Relations Ltd. and  (e) Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go in 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Supplier/organisation  Date  Description of purchase  Value () 
			 The Labour party 25 October 2007 Provision of Security at Annual Labour Conference 2006. This was a further payment in relation to costs that had not been submitted at the time of the initial conference 11,748.73 
			 
			 The Labour party 25 October 2007 Provision of security at Annual Labour Conference 2007 1,267,359.00 
		
	
	In accordance with section 170 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Home Office reimburses security costs incurred by political parties provided that this is accompanied by a letter from the Chief Officer of Police for the host area confirming that the security measures are justified.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Supplier/organisation  Date  Description of purchase  Value () 
			 Biometix 25 March 2008 Tool for analyzing Biometric data. Performix PC Desktop Licence with 12 months support 4,990.00 
			 
			 Information Risk Management plc 26 March 2008 To conduct an IT Healthcheck on security of Criminal Justice Xhibit portal. This involved internal and external penetration tests to assess vulnerability 14,080.00 
			 
			 Good Relations Ltd. 13 April 2007 Provision of weekly news summaries to the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) and Criminal Justice Technology (CJIT), now MOJ 46,978.00 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 18 June 2007 Working lunch 137.29 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 25 June 2007 Working lunch for external Swedish visitors attending meeting 77.87 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 23 July 2007 Working lunch for PSA/APACS event paid for by Police and Crime Standards Directorate (PCSD) 164.75 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 7 August 2008 Working lunch 331.20

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2243W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in her Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Phil Woolas: Ministers in the Home Office have taken the following personal training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008:
	Induction workshop
	Departmental leadership development
	Media training

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 303W, on Departmental written questions, which are the nine questions referred to in the table as over 15 days late; what the reasons are for the time taken to respond in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The unique identification numbers (UIN) in respect of the nine questions referred to in my answer of 24 March are as follows:
	248332
	249216
	241568
	245482
	245483
	251937
	244798
	251292
	240954

Detainees: Offenders

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many foreign national former prisoners were held in the immigration detention estate on 12 January 2009;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners were being held in prisons awaiting deportation on 12 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Committee in order to provide them with all of the most robust and accurate information available. In her letter of 23 July 2008 she advised the Committee that there were around 1,650 foreign criminals who had completed their sentence and were detained under immigration powers pending deportation action. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House. She also recently advised the Public Accounts Committee during her appearance before them on 5 March that, of those who are detained pending deportation action, around 1,200 are held within the UK Border Agency detention estate.
	The information relating to the numbers of foreign national prisoners subject to deportation action who are either serving their sentence or are being detained under immigration powers in prisons is not centrally held. In order to obtain the information it would be necessary to examine individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service: Firearms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 663W, on the Diplomatic Service: security guards, how many requests to carry firearms whilst in Great Britain were received from each country in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Detailed records are not kept beyond three years, and for security reasons it would be inappropriate to disclose details of protection requests received and measures provided.

Foreign Workers: Fixed Penalties

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued to workers from  (a) Bulgaria and  (b) Romania for breach of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006 since 1 January 2007.

Jacqui Smith: Between 1 January 2007 and 31 January 2009, a total of 99 fixed penalty notices for breach of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations were issued to workers from Bulgaria, and 287 to workers from Romania.
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Identity Cards: Interviews

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on the national identity register, in what type of cases may individuals be asked to attend an interview when they apply for registration on the National Identity Register or for a replacement card.

Phil Woolas: Whether an individual would be invited to attend an interview prior to registration on the National Identity Register will depend on the particular circumstances of the application but, as now with first time adult applicants for passports, it is likely that the Identity and Passport Service would need to interview an applicant where there is limited evidence of identity such as no previous passport history. An interview is one way of helping to establish identity.

Illegal Immigrants: Prosecutions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 118W, on illegal immigrants: arrests, how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) deportations were made following the 1,685 enforcement visits made to restaurants and takeaway food outlets in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency records details of the number of individuals arrested as suspected immigration offenders, details of prosecutions, and the details of those removed on three separate systems. In order to achieve the required level of data quality, the cross-referencing of data between the three systems could be completed only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, as well as statistics on persons proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts in England and Wales annually. National Statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Immigration: Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 915-6W, on biometrics: airports, how much her Department spent on IRIS technology in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009 to date.

Phil Woolas: The costs incurred to the Department for the maintenance and support of Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS), are as follows:
	 (a) 2008: 568,100
	 (b) January to March 2009: 149,600.

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 March 2009, on the Vetting and Barring Scheme, what the reason is for the period of time taken between implementing the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 in October 2009 and the scheme becoming fully operational in July 2010; and what assessment she has made of the likely effects of this period on the operation of the scheme.

Jacqui Smith: The commencement of new applications under section 24 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will take place in July 2010 to enable full implementation and testing of the new IT systems which are required to introduce the scheme effectively, including a contingency period. In the period from October 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority will be able to bar from the full range of regulated activities with children or vulnerable adults any cases referred to it in which it considers the individual referred to be unsuitable for such work.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 26 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr K Khan.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs A Sibal.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. S. Ali.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 4 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to S. Hashmi.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 24 July 2008, reference M14 547/8, on Gurkhas retired from the armed forces, in respect of which the hon. Member has written to her on 10 September, 1 October, 30 October and 17 December 2008 and 22 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: In September 2008, the High Court agreed that the 1997 cut-off date applied to retired Gurkhas was sound and not discriminatory. However, it did find that the policy guidance relating to the treatment of Gurkhas discharged before 1997 was not sufficiently clear and did not cover service-related factors. We are determined to get the revised guidance right to ensure that it is fair to all Gurkhas and this has involved consultation across Government.
	The revised guidance for Gurkhas who retired before July 1997 and who wish to seek settlement in the UK will be published by 24 April.
	We want to give Members the fullest possible information and we therefore plan to respond as soon as possible after that date with a full explanation of our revised guidance.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 16 March 2009, on her constituent Mr. Joseph Kamangire.

Phil Woolas: The Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency, Jonathan Sedgwick, wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 9 February 2009 with regard to a constituent, reference POS(2)10644/0088; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Phil Woolas: The letter referred to was received in the Home Office on 12 February 2009, and was transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions on 17 February. A letter advising the transfer was sent to my hon. Friend's office, also on 17 February.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 17 February 2009, with regard to Mr. Safraz Muneer.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 16 February 2009, with regard to Mr. Mohammed Ayub.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 2 April 2009.

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on offensive weapons: convictions, how many convictions there were for possession of a knife in the period June to November  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2007.

Jacqui Smith: The answer of the 17 March 2009 referred to a provisional 815 more convictions for the possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the 10 TKAP areas in the period June to November 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. Of this number, there were 777 more convictions for the possession of an article with a blade or point and 38 more convictions for the possession of an offensive weapon.
	These figures are provisional and have been derived from the police's administrative IT system, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1083W, on offensive weapons: crime prevention, whether young people were involved in the Tackling Knives Action Programme.

Vernon Coaker: Engaging young people has been a key element of the Tackling Knives Action Programme. All forces involved have delivered education programmes on the dangers and consequences of carrying knives. In addition, young people have been involved in youth forums, conferences and a range of events using drama, sport, music and dance. A National Youth Theatre tour, funded through the programme, has also given young people an opportunity to educate their peers on the risks and consequences of knife carrying.
	The Home Office worked with a group of young people to develop the 'It Doesn't Have to Happen' youth marketing campaign, which seeks to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a knife and encourage them to put the knife down and take up a more positive activity. Young people have contributed to the campaign's development and are encouraged to share the campaign messages with their peers. The campaign has used a range of radio, viral, online and poster adverts as well as events and competitions to get the messages across. Over 10,000 people are also members of the campaign's thriving Bebo community, providing young people with an online forum to share their views and take a stand against knife crime.

Police: Health

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on police: health, how many people took police fitness tests in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what results were  (a) achieved and  (b) achieved for dynamic strength and endurance in each year.

Jacqui Smith: The available data are given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	The Policing Green Paper announced that Sir David Normington, permanent secretary to the Home Office, would lead a review of the strategic data collection burden placed by the Home Office on police forces in England and Wales. Sir David's report was published on 16 February.
	Fitness tests data collection was one of the data streams cut. It was previously required by HMIC and recorded fitness test breakdown by gender, number of attempts, number taking the attempt and the fitness skill level tested. Given HMIC's new mission after the publication of the Policing Green Paper, this data is no longer required by them. Forces have been informed not to provide the data in the 2009-10 annual data requirement notice thereby removing the burden on police support staff to collate and supply the data to the Home Office.

Police: ICT

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many hand-held computers have been issued to police officers; and how many police forces have received funding for hand-held computers from her Department in the last two years;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1166W, on police: electronic equipment, what proportion of patrol officers have been issued with a hand-held device.

Jacqui Smith: All police forces in England, Scotland and Wales have received funding. A total of 31,607 hand held devices had been issued at 30 March 2009. All of the devices have been issued to officers performing front line roles, many of whom will be undertaking patrol duties. The operational duties of the officers receiving the devices are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

Police: Marketing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 954-55W, on police: marketing, how many people had used the text back service on the date for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The text back service has received 2,250 texts since it began on 2 March 2009 up until 1 April 2009.

Police: Marketing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 954-55W, on police: marketing, how much her Department plans to spend on advertising and marketing the Policing Pledge in the financial year 2009-10.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office plans to spend 3 million on advertising and marketing the Policing Pledge in the financial year 2009-10. This campaign will increase awareness and understanding of the Policing Pledge. The public have a right to understand what service level they can expect from their local police and how to hold them to account if standards are not met.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2479W, on the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre: Government Departments, for what reasons her Department paid for a room in the QE2 Conference Centre to hold its leadership away day; how much the booking cost; and why departmental buildings were not used for the away day.

Phil Woolas: The Government's London estate has limited conference facilities and so from time to time the Home Office and other Departments are required to hire external venues for events.
	We are not able to reveal the cost of the booking as this is a commercially sensitive issue between the Home Office and the QEII Centre.
	The QEII Centre is owned by the Crown (Department for Communities and Local Government).

Written Questions: Government Responses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer Question 250112, on Operation Pentameter, tabled by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 19 January 2009.

Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary (Mr. Campbell) replied on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 650W.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1336W, on children: databases, which companies bid for his Department's ContactPoint contract.

Beverley Hughes: In answer to the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1336W.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 489W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, if he will provide an itemised breakdown of the estimated cost of providing the requested information in full.

Jim Knight: In the reply to PQ 231974, the estimated costs of providing the information requested in PQs 224479 and 224500 were 1,300 and 900 respectively.
	Following a detailed analysis of the processes involved in answering these questions we are able to provide the itemised breakdowns as follows:
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, at how many co mprehensive schools 50 per cent. or more pupils achieved a modern languages GCSE at A*-C in each year since 1997. (224479)
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 9 225 
			 Implementing production rules 1 25 
			 Writing syntax 8 200 
			
			  Producing figures (11 years) 50.16 1,254 
			
			  Producing figures (one year) 4.56 114 
			 Run the required filters (including maintained only sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to school level 0.2 5 
			 Merge to school file 0.2 5 
			 Analysis of output (e.g. remove independent schools, remove schools with 10 pupils, count how many with 50 per cent. MFL, etc.) 3 75 
			
			  Additional work 1.5 37.5 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 0.25 6.25 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 66.16 1,704 
		
	
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what percentage of pupils in the maintained mainstream sector achieved five GCSEs including a modern language at A* to C grades in each year since 1997. (224500)
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 9 225 
			 Implementing production rules 1 25 
			 Writing syntax 8 200 
			
			  Producing figures (11 years) 16.28 407 
			
			  Producing figures (one year) 1.48 37 
			 Run the required filters (including maintained only sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Analysis of output (count number of pupils with 5 A*-C including MFL) 0.32 8 
			
			  Additional work 1.5 37.5 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 0.25 6.25 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 32.28 857

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 845W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing all the information requested; and under what budgetary headings such expenditure would be incurred.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The estimated cost to the Department of providing all the information requested is 850. These are salary costs.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 17 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 1854-55W, on educational attainment, how many and what proportion of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 attending  (a) maintained secondary schools and  (b) independent secondary schools achieved each grade in GCSE for (i) geography, (ii) history, (iii) a modern foreign language, (iv) English and (v) mathematics in each year since 1998.

Jim Knight: Tables showing the number and proportion of GCSE entries by grade and subject for pupils at the end of key stage 4 attending maintained and independent secondary schools from 2005-08 have been placed in the House Libraries. All GCSE attempts (including multiple attempts within each subject group) have been counted.
	Figures prior to 2005 can not be provided on a comparable basis.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1502-3W, on schools: assessments, which of the schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history or geography also entered no pupils for a GCSE in humanities.

Jim Knight: The information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history or geography and also no pupils for a GCSE in humanities 
			  School code  Institution name  Local authority 
			 3096905 Greig City Academy Haringey 
			 3125406 Rosedale College Hillingdon 
			 3304611 St. Alban's CE Specialist Engineering College Birmingham 
			 3706905 The Barnsley Academy Barnsley 
			 8134075 Brumby Engineering College North Lincolnshire 
			 8564005 New College Leicester Leicester City 
			 8866906 The Marlowe Academy Kent 
			 9255422 St. Hugh's C of E Mathematics and Computing College Lincolnshire 
			 9354600 St. Benedict's Catholic School Suffolk

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to reply to the letter of 28 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Dr. G. Bailey of Yate, on Government support for childcare provision.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has no record of receiving the letter of 28 January from the hon. Member. If the hon. Member can forward a copy of the letter to the Department a reply will be sent within the agreed Whitehall standard.

Ofsted

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 221-2W on local government: disclosure of information, how many people have contacted Ofsted's National Business Unit anonymously in each of the last four years; how many Ofsted investigators have been investigated as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 March 2009
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 1 April 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted has only recorded the number of anonymous contacts with the National Business Unitthat may have required action, as opposed to simple requests for informationsince April 2007, when the new organisation came into being. These anonymous contacts relate to complaints about schools. Table A shows the number in each year as recorded in our system.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of anonymous contacts with the National Business Unit that may have required action 
			  Year  Quantity 
			 2007-08 30 
			 2008-09 65 
		
	
	Some additional anonymous contacts relating to the compliance, investigation and enforcement activities we undertake on childcare, daycare and other children's services are made directly to our inspectors or local teams, rather than via the National Business Unit. This information is not collated or held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
	As these were complaints about schools and not about inspections, they did not lead to any Ofsted inspectors being investigated.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Science: Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 2 November 2005,  Official Report, columns 1207-11W, on science, what percentage of those students who gained  (a) a GCSE,  (b) an A-level and  (c) an AS-level in (i) biology or human biology, (ii) chemistry and (iii) physics in each year since 2000 were educated in (A) the state sector and (B) the independent sector, broken down by grade;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 2544-46W, on languages: general certificate of secondary education, how many and what proportion of pupils who gained a GCSE in  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry and  (c) biology at each grade were educated in the (i) maintained and (ii) independent sector in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries for the years 2005-08. Figures prior to 2005 can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary Education: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in funding for secondary schools in Milton Keynes announced for 2009-10 by the Learning and Skills Council;
	(2)  for what reasons the Learning and Skills Council replaced the final funding allocation sent to schools in Milton Keynes on 3 March 2009 with a final funding statement on 31 March 2009; what assessment he has made of the effect of this on schools' budgetary planning; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the press statement of 3 April 2009, which is available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0068

Sixth Form Education

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 279-80W, on sixth form education, whether the changes to the Decision Makers' guidance in relation to new school sixth forms were implemented in February 2009.

Jim Knight: I am currently considering comments received from key 16-19 stakeholders in the consultation on the proposed changes to the Decision Maker's Guidance. The full revised guidance will be published on the Department's website as soon as possible. On 26 March we made one change to the guidance to alter the presumption eligibility period from 12 to 24 months.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  O fficial Report, column 1250W, on special educational needs: disadvantaged, how many special schools there were in each decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2008;
	(2)  how many specials schools there were in each decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2003.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Number of special schools( 1)  by IDACI decile( 2)  of school location 
			  IDACI decile  2003  2008 
			 0-10% most deprived areas 121 117 
			 10-20% 122 114 
			 20-30% 113 102 
			 30-40% 125 123 
			 40-50% 110 99 
			 50-60% 94 92 
			 60-70% 115 105 
			 70-80% 105 93 
			 80-90% 129 109 
			 90-100% least deprived areas 126 111 
			 (1) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. (2) 2007 Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1250W, on special educational needs: disadvantaged, what the names of the 117 schools referred to in the table are; and in which local authority area each is located.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A table listing the 117 special schools in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output area by Income Deprivation Affecting Children Indices has been placed in the House Libraries.

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his letter of correction of 4 December 2008 to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Deposited Paper DEP2008-2997, to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 596W, on teachers: males, which five secondary schools did not have any male teachers in 2008; and in which local authority area each was.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the name and local authority area of maintained secondary schools recorded in the school census of January 2008 as having no male full-time qualified teacher. Middle schools deemed secondary are included.
	
		
			  Local authority maintained secondary schools with no male full-time qualified( 1)  teacher, 2008, England 
			   Local authority  area 
			 Bolton Muslim Girls School Bolton 
			 Feversham College Bradford 
			 Seahouses Middle School Northumberland 
			 West Sleekburn Middle School Northumberland 
			 Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School Hackney 
			 (1) Teacher with qualified teacher status.  Source: School Census.

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his letter of correction of 4 December 2008 to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Deposited Paper DEP2008-2997, to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 596W, on teachers: males, how many and what percentage of primary school pupils who  (a) lived and  (b) attended school in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2008 attended schools with no male teachers.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown as follows:
	 (a) In 2008, 85,883 primary school pupils(1,2) who lived in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices (IDACI) attended schools with no male teachers. This represents 14.7 per cent. of all primary school pupils who lived in the most deprived IDACI decile. This compares with 20.5 per cent. of primary pupils resident in all IDACI deciles, who attend schools with no male teachers.
	 (b) In 2008, 69,990 primary school pupils(1,2) who attended school in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices (IDACI) attended schools with no male teachers. This represents 14.6 per cent. of all primary school pupils who attended school in the most deprived IDACI decile. This compares with 20.6 per cent. of primary pupils who attend school in all IDACI deciles, who attend schools with no male teachers.
	(1) Includes solely registered and main registration of dually registered pupils.
	(2) Includes pupils of all ages attending maintained primary schools.
	 Source:
	School Census 2008.

Written Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his predecessor Department of preparing the answer of 2 November 2005,  Official Report, columns 1207-11W, on science.

Jim Knight: It is estimated that the cost of preparing the reply to PQ 22930 was 2,700.
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those students who gained (a) a GCSE, (b) an A level and (c) an AS level in (i) biology or human biology, (ii) chemistry and (iii) physics in each year since 1997 were educated in (A) the state sector and (B) the independent sector, broken down by grade; and if she will make a statement.
	The estimated breakdown for this PQ is:
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 4.5 112.5 
			 Implementing production rules 0.5 12.5 
			 Writing syntax 4 100 
			
			  Producing figures (9 years  GCSE, AS Level and A Level) 93.96 2,349 
			  Producing figures (one year - GCSE, AS Level and A Level) 10.44 261 
			  Producing figures (one year) 3.48 87 
			 Run the required filters (maintained/independent sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Create tables 0.32 8 
			 Analysis of output 2 50 
			
			  Additional work 2.75 68.75 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 1.5 37.5 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 108.71 2,717.75

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 404W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under each budget heading his Department incurred in the meeting of energy and oil Ministers in London on 18 and 19 December 2008.

Mike O'Brien: The meeting in London on 18 and 19 December 2008 of International Energy and Oil Ministers cost the Department 516,200.28. This figure is broken down by the following categories of expenditure:
	
		
			
			 Event organisation and logistical arrangements (1)255,870.75 
			 Hire of conference venue and hotel accommodation for delegates 130,289.53 
			 Production of analytical reports and research 130,040.00 
			 (1) This figure includes event management, security, A/V equipment, interpretation, design and set up of the conference venue, catering, transportation and equipment used during the event.

Departmental Public Relations

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn, Hatfield of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 297W, on departmental public relations, with which public relations consultancies his Department has entered into contracts since it was established.

Mike O'Brien: Kreab Gavin Anderson (formerly Gavin Anderson and Company) is contracted to DECC to provide expert strategic advice on the renewable energy finance community.

Departmental Reorganisation

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many of his Department's staff were based in  (a) his Department's London offices,  (b) the London offices of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and  (c) the London offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 March 2009.

Mike O'Brien: As at 1 March 2009 there were approximately 106 staff in the Department's London office and of those transferring to DECC from BERR and DEFRA there were approximately 320 in the London offices of DEFRA and approximately 480 in the London offices of BERR.

Energy Supply

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2160W, on energy supply, for what reasons he does not plan to place in the Library a copy of  (a) the agenda and  (b) the minutes of the meeting he held with the main energy supply companies on 17 November 2008.

Mike O'Brien: Ministers meet regularly with stakeholders as part of the commercial and policy development process, and these meetings are not public meetings.

Home Energy Saving Programme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what proportion of the 910 million home energy saving fund announced on 11 September 2008 he expects to be spent in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10;
	(2)  by what date he expects the first payment from the 910 million home energy saving fund announced on 11 September 2008 to have been made.

Joan Ruddock: On 11 September 2008 the Prime Minister announced the Home Energy Saving Programme which included a 20 per cent. uplift to the level of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and a new obligation, the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). These schemes operate as obligations on the energy suppliers (and the electricity generators in the case of CESP) to achieve carbon savings by encouraging households to take-up energy saving measures.
	The figure of 910 million refers to the estimated extra investment suppliers and generators will need to make in order to deliver these additional obligations. No Government funding is involved.
	In terms of CERT, Ofgem, the scheme administrator, does not collect data on energy supplier spend. However, based on the costs of the measures promoted by suppliers, we estimate that the overall spend by suppliers on delivering the 20 per cent. increase to the CERT obligations will be around 560 million. However, we expect the CESP to lead to supplier and generator investment of some 350 million by 2012.
	The proposals for CERT and CESP are currently subject to public consultation.

Members: Correspondence

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter of 23 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 March 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the right hon. Member on 21 March.

Nuclear Power

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the evidential basis is for the statement in the Prime Minister's speech on nuclear energy on 17 March 2009 that the complete lifecycle emissions from nuclear power are only between two and six per cent. of those of gas for every unit of electricity generated.

Mike O'Brien: The evidential basis for that figure is set out in the Sustainable Development Commission paper reference 'The Role of Nuclear Power in a Low Carbon Economy, Paper 2: Reducing CO2 Emissions - Nuclear and the Alternatives, March 2006', taken from the nuclear consultation document 'The role of nuclear power in a low carbon UK economy, May 2007' and as quoted in that document and illustrated in figure 2.1 on page 49.

Nuclear Power: Conferences

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place on his Department's website  (a) a list of all invitees and  (b) copies of all speeches and presentations made to the international nuclear fuel cycle conference at Lancaster House on 17 March.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference at Lancaster House (17-18( )March) was jointly organised by FCO and DECC. It was intended to promote further dialogue between supplier states and recipient statesnotably, the so-called 'nuclearising' stateson 'securing safe access to peaceful power'.
	Where speakers have given permission, copies of their speeches and presentations to the Conference are being placed on the FCO website. The conference speech given by the Prime Minster is, of course, already in the public domain and can be found on the Number 10 website.
	We shall also place a full list of participating states, NGOs and Parliamentarians on the FCO website.

Nuclear Power: Consultants

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1329-30, on nuclear power: consultants, what proportion of the amount of each contract had been recovered in fees on the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion of the monetary value of each contract he expects to be recovered under fees regulations.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has engaged a range of external bodies and individuals to assist it with various technical aspects, process assurance and organisation. The proportion value of each consultancy contract recovered in fees as of 31 December 2008, and the percentage value expected to be recovered under the fee regulations is as follows:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Contractors: (listed in columns 1431W)  Cost  Amount recovered at 31 December 2008  The proportion value of each contract recovered  Recoverable 
			 IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) 229,879.00 230,267.61 100 100 
			 Washington E and C Ltd 70,000.00 25,000.00 36 100 
			 EPRI 57,144.00 13,471.60 24 100 
			 Health Protection agency (formerly NRPB) 16,564.40 16,560.81 100 100 
			 Morson International 14,000.00 8,231.70 59 100 
			 Imperial College London 800.00 800.00 100 100 
			 OECD-NEA 352,312.84 39,672.30 11 100 
			 AMEC NNC 19,314.00 6.037.80 31 100 
			 Atkins Nuclear 22,483.02 4,905.48 22 100 
			 Other Contractors (used since) 
			 DYCODA, LLC 10,000.00 6,499.50 65 100 
			 Jacobsen Engineering Ltd. 104,400.00 0.00 0 100 
			 Serco Assurance 59,975.00 58,010.92 97 100 
			 University of Liverpool 2,605.81 2,606.07 100 100 
			 VTT Technical Research Centre Finland 66,600.00 70,403.02 106 100 
			 Process Review Board: (column 1432W) 
			 David Hughes 12,500.00 15,683.95 125 100 
			 John Raine 15,016.00 11,508.21 77 100 
			 Bernard Whittle 12,155.00 8,565.60 70 100 
			 Phillip Woodward 12,155.00 7,685.20 63 100 
			 Project Assurance Officer: (column 1432W) 
			 James Furness 29,500.00 3,848.96 13 100 
		
	
	Additional costs above contract value for VTT and David Hughes were incurred as a result of contract extension.
	The variance on the IAEA contract is due to currency exchange rate and bank charges.
	Values in table are contract values not annual costs.

Nuclear Power: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells, of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1138W, on nuclear power: regulation, how many pages there are in the review of nuclear regulation by Dr Tim Stone to which he refers.

Mike O'Brien: 38 pages.

Courts: Repairs and Maintenance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1119W, on courts: repairs and maintenance, how much was spent on the refurbishment of court buildings in each of the last three years, excluding expenditure on the Royal Courts of Justice and on the Crown Court at Isleworth.

Jack Straw: Altogether in 2008-09 47 million was spent by HMCS on maintenance at all courts, 27 million on projects to increase capacity and to rationalise the estate (and 75 million on major new builds). HMCS does not define 'refurbishment projects' as a specific programme of work. Expenditure for the last three financial years from the maintenance and capacity programmes which could be classed as 'refurbishment' is as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure ( million) 
			 2006-07 8.0 
			 2007-08 1.8 
			 2008-09 1.5 
		
	
	This is mainly made up of the following projects:
	
		
			million 
			 Warwick Criminal Justice Centre (South) 2.5 
			 Shoreditch/Clerkenwell County Courts 1.3 
			 Hendon Magistrates Court 3.9 
			 Regional refurbishment spend 3.7

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 13 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon on behalf of Mr. E. Penberton of Thornbury, on proposals relating to bailiffs.

Bridget Prentice: I replied to the letter from the hon. Member on behalf of Mr. E. Pemberton on 15 April 2009.

Pentonville Prison: Prison Escapes

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will hold an inquiry into the escape from HM Prison Pentonville on 27 March 2009.

David Hanson: The National Offender Management Service has a well established process for investigating serious incidents in prison, and all escapes are investigated. This was the only escape from inside a prison establishment in 2008-09. This reflects a significant achievement on behalf of staff working in prisons to protect the public.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1070W, when he expects there to be sufficient capacity within the prison system to end the End of Custody Licence scheme.

Jack Straw: End of Custody Licence (ECL) will be brought to end as soon as there is sufficient capacity within the prison system to do so. I set out a comprehensive strategy for managing the increasing prison population in December 2007 and we have been pursuing that strategy vigorously. We are monitoring the position carefully and will end the scheme when sufficient headroom exists.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time taken by the Cardiff office of the Appeals Service was to review decisions on applications for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) all benefits in the latest period for which information is available; and how many appeals submitted to that office for review were outstanding on 31 January 2009.

Bridget Prentice: In 2008-09 the average time taken by the First-tier Tribunal Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) office in Cardiff to review decisions on applications for  (a) disability living allowance was 10.84 weeks and  (b) all benefits was 11.85 weeks. The national target for SSCS appeals is to ensure that 75 per cent. of all appeals should receive a first hearing within 14 weeks of receipt. There were 9,455 appeals outstanding in the Cardiff office on 31 January 2009.

Central Office of Information: Directories

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1348-49W, on departments: publications, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Central Office of Information's IPO Directory or equivalent publication for 1996.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Peter Buchanan, dated April 2009:
	requesting a copy of the 1996 IPO directory published by the Central Office of Information.
	A copy has been placed in the libraries of the House.

Central Office of Information: Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to Lord Cope of Berkeley of 19 November 2008,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 193WA, on the Central Office of Information: expenditure, for what reasons the figure of 265.8 million expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising given in the Answer differs from the 391 million expenditure figure published in the Central Office of Information's Annual Report and Accounts for 2007-08; and if he will publish an expenditure figure for 1996-97 using the same methodology as used to calculate the figure in the 2007-08 document.

Liam Byrne: The 265.8 million figure represents expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising. The 391 million figure in the 2007-08 annual report is the total for all expenditure through COI, including for example costs relating to Directgov, public consultations, research, interactive services, publications and regional offices.
	In 1996-97 the total expenditure through COI was 125.9 million. The expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising, unadjusted for inflation, was 81.2 million.
	The majority of the increased expenditure since 1996-07 is related to campaigns for public service recruitment, health and safety and new issues such as climate change. The largest campaigns over the last year have been on Army recruitment, RAF recruitment, Act On C02, Alcohol Harm Reduction, Obesity and Road Safety.

Regional Ministers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the Parliamentary assistants to  (a) the Minister for the West Midlands and  (b) the Minister for London in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Liam Byrne: No travel costs have been incurred by the Cabinet Office for the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister for the West Midlands. The Minister for London is not a Minister in the Cabinet Office.

Regional Ministers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Cabinet Secretary has taken to inform the Director of the Government Office in each region of the provisions of his letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008 in respect of the circumstances in which a Department may pay the travel costs of a Parliamentary assistant to a Regional Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Cabinet Secretary's letter of 2 December 2008 to permanent secretaries was copied to regional directors of the Government offices.

Banks: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, what the agreed  (a) principles and  (b) guidelines for managing assets under the terms of the Asset Protection Scheme are;
	(2)  what documents were supplied by participants in the Asset Protection Scheme relating to the implementation, administration and compliance with the applicable remuneration policy; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such document;
	(3)  what criteria will be used to assess whether participants have a credible senior management team.

Ian Pearson: Further details on the operation of the Asset Protection Scheme, including the management and governance of protected assets, and remuneration arrangements for the managers of protected assets, are set out in the document on the Asset Protection Scheme that the Chancellor placed in the House Library on 27 February.

Departmental Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 716W, on Departmental ICT, for what reasons his Department's IT systems and services are not accredited as conforming to the ISO 27001 standard; and what assessment he has made of the effect on data security of compliance with the standard.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury's IT systems and services have recently been accredited in line with HMG standards, which closely conform to ISO 27001.

Individual Savings Accounts

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from the taxation of  (a) individual savings accounts and  (b) the interest on individual savings accounts since 6 April 2008.

Ian Pearson: ISAs are tax-advantaged savings products. No tax is payable on interest or capital gains arising on investments held within ISAs, and therefore no revenue accrues to the Exchequer as a result. In 2007-8 the tax relief provided through ISAs amounted to an estimated 2.4 billion.
	A small amount of revenue may accrue to the Exchequer in the case of uninvested cash which is held for a period of time within a stocks and shares ISA, however this is not a result of tax. This is because interest earned on this cash is subject to a flat 20 per cent. charge to prevent abuse of the ISA regime. HMRC does not collect specific data on the income from this charge.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when the Economic Secretary plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 23 October 2008 on inclusion of non-bank building societies in the financial support package for the banking industry.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 March 2009
	A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 October 2008 from the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead on finance and investment in Icelandic banks.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 10 October, 25 November and 14 December 2008 and 4 February 2009 sent on behalf of his constituent, Mr M Wilberforce; and when he expects the matter raised in the correspondence to be resolved.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Salisbury of 16 January 2009 on Northern Rock mortgage interest rate changes.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 26 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr D Powell of Iron Acton, on transfer of tax-free allowances.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 April.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr A Kybert of Tate, on banks' support for small businesses.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 24 February 2009 with regard to a constituent, reference 3-89302009; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 April.

Members: Correspondence

George Young: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to reply to the letter of 15 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for North West Hampshire, on Icesave, and to the letters of reminder sent on 24 November 2008, 30 January 2009 and 26 February 2009.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what basis the eligibility of financial institutions to participate in the new guarantee scheme for residential mortgage-backed securities will be determined; and whether UK non-bank lenders will be permitted access to the scheme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on competition in the UK mortgage market of restricting access to the new guarantee scheme for residential mortgage-backed securities to banks and building societies;
	(3)  pursuant to the oral statement of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 482-6, on financial markets, whether any schemes being developed to encourage lending to businesses and consumers will be open to UK non-bank financial institutions;
	(4)  whether his Department plans to develop a scheme to support new lending by UK non-bank financial institutions.

Ian Pearson: On 19 January, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on measures announced on 8 October last year.
	This included a guarantee scheme for asset-backed securities to help improve lenders' access to wholesale funding markets and help promote robust and stable markets in the medium term. The scheme draws on the recommendations made by Sir James Crosby and will commence in April 2009 subject to state aid approval.
	UK banks and building societies (i.e. deposit takers currently eligible for the Credit Guarantee Scheme) are eligible to participate in the new scheme. The Government will work closely with the industry and keep the scope of the scheme under review. Eligible institutions will be able to access the scheme subject to fulfilling conditions that will be announced by the Debt Management Office in due course.
	The Government have not, at this time, produced any assessment of the impact on competition in UK mortgages of limiting participation to deposit taking institutions. However, the measures announced on 19 January were put in place with the express purpose of boosting confidence in the banking sector and are part of ongoing, successful efforts to stabilise financial markets.

Public Sector: Pensions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 89-90W, on banks: finance, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Asset Purchase Scheme on levels of public sector pension scheme deficits.

Ian Pearson: Asset purchases undertaken by the Bank of England will increase the flow of money within the economy. This will help to revive the flow of credit within the economy, encourage spending and support economic activity. A prosperous and stable economy is vital for pension schemes to meet their obligations.
	Public sector pensions are predominantly run on a pay as you go basis. This means that pension liabilities are financed when they become due, mainly from contributions into pension schemes and otherwise out of other current Government revenues.
	For funded pension schemes, to the extent that asset purchases by the Bank of England lead to movements in bond yields, this will affect the present value of pension funds liabilities, and also the present value of bonds and other assets held by the fund. The overall effect on an individual fund's financial position will depend on how closely the fund's assets and liabilities are matched in terms of their exposure to interest rate risk. This will vary across funds, reflecting differences in the composition of each fund's assets and liabilities.

Heathrow Airport: Public Consultation

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 805W, on Heathrow Airport: public consultation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the supplementary analysis of the responses from stakeholders.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The supplementary analysis was undertaken solely for the purposes of presenting internal advice. The full report of consultation responses by Ipsos/MORI/Detica has been published, and individual responses have been available for inspection since the Heathrow decisions were announced.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the letter which he placed in the Library from the Permanent Secretary of his Department to a director of High Speed Two Limited of 14 January 2009, whether High Speed Two Limited provides monthly written reports to his Department.

Paul Clark: High Speed Two provides regular reports to the Department for Transport, and Sir David Rowlands meets regularly with the Minister of State, to report the progress being made.
	High Speed Two also publishes a regular newsletter to update and engage with stakeholders.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 806W, on motor vehicles: testing, what checkpoint sites are used by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As previously mentioned in my answer of 13 March 2009, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) uses over 1,000 checkpoint sites. Some of these sites are temporary and some are permanent. A list of the permanent sites has been placed in the Libraries of the House. VOSA wishes to withhold the list of temporary sites as this information would affect the level of enforcement of non-compliant operators if it became available.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 300W, on parking: fees and charges, what comments were received from other Departments on the proposals for regulations for workplace policy levy schemes.

Paul Clark: The proposals for regulations were discussed in the usual way by Cabinet. Information relating to Cabinet Committees, including Cabinet Committee papers, are generally not disclosed, as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 990W, on railways: franchises, what timetable has been set for completion of the research.

Paul Clark: As described in the previous answer of 17 March 2009, the current research project into rail passenger demand forecasting is due to conclude by the end of 2009. Work is currently on schedule.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 835W, on railways: freight, what his Department's policy is on where on a stretch of motorway rail freight interchanges should be sited.

Paul Clark: The Strategic Rail Authority document 'Strategic Rail Interchange Policy' of 2004, which can be found at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/railfreight/railfreightinterchange.pdf
	is still the basis for the Department's policy on rail freight interchanges. It does not specify locations on the motorway network where rail freight interchanges should be sited, but does state that such interchanges should have high quality links to the motorway and trunk road network.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 835W, on railways: freight, what the position of  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) Kent Highways was on the proposed Kent International Gateway development; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The position of the Highways Agency is that further clarifications are required from the developer about the impact of the proposed development. At present the Highways Agency's view is that the proposal might be detrimental to safety and journey time reliability at Junction 8 of the M20 and the developer might be able to offer mitigation measures to offset this issue. The position of Kent Highways is a matter for Kent county council.

Roads: EC Action

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 113-4WS, on the EU Transport Council, (1) what recent progress has been made in respect of the EU's proposed directive on cross-border enforcement in the field of road safety; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the written ministerial statement of 8 October 2008,  Official Report, column 18WS, on the EU Transport Council, what progress has been made on overcoming the practical and legal difficulties of cross-border enforcement for non-resident drivers escaping financial penalties for road safety infringements; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The proposed EU directive on cross- border enforcement is not on the Transport Council agenda under the current presidency and I am not aware of any further work having been done on the proposed directive following the December Transport Council.

Rolling Stock: Manpower

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Derby North of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1847W, on rolling stock, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of new rolling stock on numbers of jobs servicing and maintaining the rolling stock to be replaced.

Paul Clark: Agility Trains has suggested that around 1,400 jobs in train maintenance will be safeguarded by their Super Express proposal. Across the network, the demand for train maintenance personnel will increase as the Department for Transport invests in the new Super Express fleet, the HLOS requirements, the new Thameslink and the new Crossrail fleets.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 895W, on departmental carbon emissions, whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon management programme.

Patrick McFadden: BERR has had two recent reviews carried out by the Carbon Trust, on its headquarters estate. The second, run in April to May 2008, was a follow-on to previous work done under the energy efficiency accreditation scheme (EEAS) which closed in March 2008. As a result of the second review, BERR was given certification under the new Carbon Trust Standard; this was awarded to the Department on 2 July 2008. On the basis that these reviews had been done, the Department did not feel it necessary to take up the Carbon Trust management programme.

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer of 12 January,  Official Report, columns 462-63W, on redundancy, how many staff left his Department under staff exit schemes with a severance package worth  (a) between 100,000 and 125,000,  (b) between 125,001 and 150,000,  (c) between 150,001 and 200,000,  (d) between 200,001 and 250,000,  (e) between 250,001 and 500,000,  (f) between 500,001 and 1,000,000 and  (g) over 1,000,000 in each year since 2005-06.

Patrick McFadden: The following table sets out details of staff who left the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform under staff exit schemes with a severance package.
	
		
			  Severance package  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 100,000-125,000 9 12 4 25 
			 125,000-150,000 2 2 3 7 
			 150,000-200,000 3 10 4 17 
			 200,000-250,000 1 6 3 10 
			 250,000-500,000 0 5 3 8 
			 500,000 plus 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 15 35 17 67 
		
	
	For staff leaving on compulsory or flexible early severance terms, or in receipt of a statutory redundancy payment, the size of the package is simply the lump sum compensation payment made.
	For staff leaving on compulsory, flexible or approved early retirement terms, the size of the package includes any lump sum compensation payment made on departure (compulsory terms only) and also the capitalised cost of paying a pension or annual compensation payment (ACP) before pension age, the cost of any pension enhancement (compulsory and flexible terms only) and the cost of bringing forward the payment of the pension lump sum (for those in classic). These figures are therefore the initial provision for the early departure liabilities caused by the staff departures. They will include any cash payments made during the period.

Departmental Responsibilities

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 523W, on the Corporate Governance Unit, when his Department's Corporate Law and Governance Directorate was established; what the remit of the Directorate is; what the cost to the public purse has been of the Directorate in each year of its operation; what the job title is of each member of staff of the Directorate; and which Ministers other than the Secretary of State have had responsibility for the Directorate since its establishment.

Patrick McFadden: BERR and its predecessor Departments have been responsible for company law issues since the 19th century. The name Corporate Law and Governance Directorate (CLG) was adopted in 2005 when responsibility for company investigations transferred to the Insolvency Service. Highlights of CLG work appear on the Department's annual report (Sections 2.91-2.94)
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file47097.pdf
	My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State currently has responsibility for company law issues in succession to my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Development and Consumer Affairs. The directorate also houses BERR's Better Regulation Unit, which reports to the Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting in succession to the Minister for Competitiveness and Small Business. In 2007-08 the running costs of the directorate were 2,198,000.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The total number of staff recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December over the past five years is 12.
	It is not possible to give a breakdown for each individual year in order to avoid possibly revealing the identity of the individual staff members.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 29 January 2009, transferred from the Department for Communities and Local Government on 9 February 2009, on business diversification grants.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	I responded to the hon. Member on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 12 February regarding a constituent.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	This matter falls under the responsibility of the Insolvency Service and I have asked the chief executive to reply direct to my hon. Friend.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr. C Simpson of Pucklechurch, on Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: I responded to the hon. Member on 27 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 24 February 2009 with regard to a constituent; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Patrick McFadden: I responded to my hon. Friend on 31 March. I apologise for the delay caused by the current high volumes of correspondence.

Councillors

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission plans to obtain bank account information from councillors in other local authorities during its next National Fraud Initiative national data matching exercise.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 20 April 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question on whether the Audit Commission plans to obtain bank account information from councillors in other local authorities during its next National Fraud Initiative national data matching exercise has been passed to me to reply.
	All local authorities will be required to provide payroll data relating to a salary, members' allowance or other remuneration for the next scheduled exercise, NFI 2010/11. The fields required for data matching are set out in a 'data specification'. The bank account and sort code are included on the payroll data specification. This information is required under powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in  Hansard.

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, for what reasons the British Humanist Association was funded from the fund.

Sadiq Khan: The British Humanist Association received 25,000 in order to establish and support a network of grassroots humanists to work and build relationships with statutory bodies and participate in groups that advise local authorities on matters of religion or belief, or encourage dialogue between people with different beliefs. The project aimed to enable local humanists to network with faith and 'interfaith' groups and participate in groups convened by local authorities, and thus contribute towards good relations and community cohesion.
	The Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund was designed to increase the capacity of all religion and belief communities to engage with each other and with wider society. The guidance notes for the fund included the following definition:
	For the purpose of this fund, a faith organisation is defined as one where the majority of its members adhere to the same faith. They share a world view or 'life stance' that involves a set of moral and spiritual values and beliefs about the nature of life and the world. They will usually, but not always, believe in a god or gods.
	The application was made under the relationships with local, regional or national Government categoryone of the capacity building categories of the fund. In its application, the BHA described their faith tradition as: Humanist (though we do not think of ourselves as a 'faith', we meet the definition of 'faith' given in the guidance).

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what funding her Department and its agencies have allocated to the British Humanist Association other than through the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund; and for what purposes.

Sadiq Khan: None.

Local Government: Bank Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1695-6W, on local government finance, if she will seek to obtain information on the levels of exposure of local authorities to the Madoff hedge fund.

John Healey: I have no plans to seek further information on levels of exposure on local government finance due to investment in the Madoff hedge fund.

Mobile Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 550W, on mobile homes, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's ad hoc survey on local authorities in England.

Iain Wright: The 2006 ad hoc survey of park home sites in England has now been placed in the Library. The data were provided by local authorities and my Department is not responsible for their accuracy.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer will be of the proposed changes.

John Healey: The impact assessment, which will be prepared alongside the necessary secondary legislation, will set out details of the cost to the Exchequer and include costs to local government which are being considered as part of the Government's new burdens rules.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, 
	(1)  whether an impact assessment of the proposals has been prepared;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the likely take-up rate of the deferred business rate scheme.

John Healey: There are approximately 1.7 million hereditaments in England that could potentially be eligible for deferring the increase in their business rate bills. An impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the process of making the necessary secondary legislation.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, what funding will be provided to local authorities to cover the costs of rebilling.

John Healey: Any policy which increases the cost of providing local authority services is subject to the new burdens principle. The Government are committed to ensuring that all net new burdens falling on local authorities are fully and properly funded. The business rates announcement is covered by the new burdens principle, and the potential net impacts on local authorities will be fully funded.

Regional Government: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1885-86W, on joint economic commission, what funding has been given to each regional economic commission; what the remit of each is; who the members of each are; and how each was appointed.

Sadiq Khan: As part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the Ministers for each English region have established regional economic fora, which they co-chair with the chair of the regional development agenda. These short-term, ad hoc advisory groups, whose members are unpaid, have no dedicated budgets and are supported by secretariats provided by their Government offices. The members come from a variety of bodies with an interest in the regional economy, including public sector bodies, local authorities, business organisations, unions and the third sector and were invited to take part in the meetings by the co-chairs of the fora.
	Details of the remits and members of each forum have been placed in the Library.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many social homes there are expected to be in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham,  (c) Liverpool,  (d) Leeds,  (e) Sheffield,  (f) Bristol,  (g) Manchester,  (h) Leicester,  (i) Coventry,  (j) Kingston upon Hull,  (k) Bradford,  (l ) Stoke-on-Trent,  (m) Wolverhampton,  (n) Nottingham,  (o) Plymouth,  (p) Southampton,  (q) Reading,  (r) Derby,  (s) Dudley and  (t) Newcastle upon Tyne in 2010;
	(2)  how many social homes there were in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham,  (c) Liverpool,  (d) Leeds,  (e) Sheffield,  (f) Bristol,  (g) Manchester,  (h) Leicester,  (i) Coventry,  (j) Kingston upon Hull,  (k) Bradford,  (l ) Stoke-on-Trent,  (m) Wolverhampton,  (n) Nottingham,  (o) Plymouth,  (p) Southampton,  (q) Reading,  (r) Derby,  (s) Dudley and  (t) Newcastle upon Tyne in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008; and how many there were on 1 March 2009.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1510W. A table has already been placed in the Library to provide the number of social homes owned by local authorities and registered social landlords in 2008, for every local authority area.
	A new table showing the number of social homes owned by local authority and registered social landlords in 2007, for every local authority area has been deposited in the Library.
	Information on local authority (LA) owned housing stock is collected from local authorities on the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return. This information is recorded as at 1 April and is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 116 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140882.xls
	Information on Registered Social Landlords' (RSL) stock is collected through the Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) and is recorded as at 31 March.
	Figures for RSLs are for social housing stock owned in England only and include general needs, supported housing and housing for older people accommodation. Both self-contained units and bed spaces are included because a split for local authority areas is not available.
	Information is not available for the expected number of social homes in 2010 or for the number of social homes on 1 March 2009.

CJD: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 756-7W, on CJD: screening, what the criteria are for validation of a test for variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Dawn Primarolo: Any item of equipment for a variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease test kit must meet the essential safety requirements specified in the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Directive.
	The device must perform as intended by the manufacturer and meet criteria relating to sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility.

CJD: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2009,  Official Report, column 757W, on blood donation screening, if he will make an assessment of the merits of giving access to blood samples of those who have died of variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) to companies which have developed a blood screening test for vCJD.

Dawn Primarolo: A process, overseen by the independent OD Resource Centre Oversight Committee, is already in place to enable appropriate access to the small number of blood samples from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vGD) disease patients. Companies developing vCJD screening tests are already participating in this process.

Departmental Research

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1360W, on departmental publications, how many articles appearing in healthcare publications and journals in the last two years have been funded in whole and in part by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies.

Ben Bradshaw: 21 advertorials (paid-for articles) in health care publications and journals have been funded in whole or in part by the Department's communications directorate in the last two years.
	To identify this information against a wider definition would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Research

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1360W, on departmental publications, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies spent on articles appearing in healthcare publications and journals in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's communications directorate has spent 59,000 excluding VAT on advertorials (paid-for articles) in health care publications and journals in the last two years.
	To identify this information against a wider definition would incur a disproportionate cost.

Health Services

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of  (a) (i) the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, (ii) the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and (iii) North Staffordshire NHS Trust since 1 January 2003 and the Healthcare Commission since its inception.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to approach the organisations listed directly, as they may publish or be able to provide the information requested. There is no such national health service (NHS) organisation as North Staffordshire NHS Trust. However, there is the University Hospital of North Stafford NHS Trust or North Stafford NHS Primary Care Trust. The Healthcare Commission (HCC) ceased to exist on 31 March 2009 and was replaced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is the new health and adult social care regulator for England. CQC may be approached to provide historical HCC documents.
	As stated in the publication 'Governing the NHSa guide for Boards', which has been placed in the Library, there is an obligation on the boards of strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts to conduct themselves and their business in an open and transparent way that commands public confidence. As stated in 'The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance', published by  Monitor the independent regular of NHS foundation trusts (FT), an FT's board of directors should follow a policy of openness and transparency in its proceedings and decision making unless this conflicts with a need to protect the wider interests of the public or the NHS foundation trust.

Health Services: Greater London

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 898W, on health services: Greater London, what assessment he has made of the effects on the revenue of primary care trusts in  (a) Enfield and  (b) London in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 of changes to the formula used to determine revenue allocations to such trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The 2009-10 and 2010-11 revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) were made on the basis of a new funding formula, recommended by the independent advisory committee on resource allocation.
	The funding formula determines PCT target allocations. Actual allocations to PCTs depend also on the pace of change policyhow additional funding is distributed to move PCTs towards their target allocations. It is therefore not possible to say what the allocations would have been in 2009-10 and 2010-11 if the previous funding formula had still applied.
	The Department is moving all PCTs towards their target allocations as quickly as possible, but this must be balanced with the need to ensure that all PCTs are appropriately supported with stable funding that both supports existing commitments and allows long-term planning, as well as recognising the unavoidable cost pressures that all PCTs face.
	Enfield PCT moved from being 0.1 per cent. above target under the previous funding formula at the close of 2008-09 to opening 2009-10 under the new formula at 2.3 per cent. above target. This means that under the 2009-10 and 2010-11 pace of change policy, Enfield PCT received a 10.6 per cent. average increase in funding over the two years, equivalent to a cumulative cash increase of 44.1 million. The average increase for London PCTs over the two years is 10.7 per cent.
	The 2009-10 and 2010-11 allocations made to the PCTs in the London strategic health authority and the difference between their actual and target allocations (the distance from target) are listed in the following table.
	
		
			   Distance from target percentage 
			  PCT name  2009-10 allocation 000  2010-11 allocation 000  Two year increase 000  Two year increase percentage  2008-09 closing  2009-10 opening  2010-11 closing 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 301,080 316,599 30,789 10.77 -3.5 0.7 1.3 
			 Barnet PCT 528,745 555,931 53,442 10.64 6.9 7.9 6.7 
			 Bexley Care Trust 321,350 337,896 32,552 10.66 0.3 1.5 1.4 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 501,538 527,325 50,692 10.64 4.8 8.3 7.7 
			 Bromley PCT 466,265 490,239 47,126 10.64 3.2 8.7 8.6 
			 Camden PCT 453,989 477,331 45,886 10.64 5.6 14.2 12.4 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 472,222 496,502 47,729 10.64 -3.5 6.6 6.6 
			 Croydon PCT 526,752 553,836 53,240 10.64 1.9 5.2 5.1 
			 Ealing PCT 545,775 573,837 55,163 10.64 6.7 8.2 8.0 
			 Enfield PCT 436,718 459,173 44,140 10.64 0.1 2.3 2.1 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 424,160 445,968 42,871 10.64 0.7 4.2 4.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 326,448 343,232 32,995 10.64 6.0 16.4 16.2 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 424,321 446,139 42,887 10.64 0.5 2.3 2.1 
			 Harrow PCT 313,370 329,483 31,673 10.64 7.2 7.8 7.4 
			 Havering PCT 376,447 396,316 39,278 11.00 0.2 0.2 0.5 
			 Hillingdon PCT 379,496 399,009 38,357 10.64 3.4 6.6 6.4 
			 Hounslow PCT 362,964 381,627 36,686 10.64 4.7 5.2 5.1 
			 Islington PCT 412,126 433,316 41,655 10.64 8.4 12.3 11.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 337,424 354,773 34,104 10.64 4.9 22.1 20.4 
			 Kingston PCT 249,459 262,286 25,213 10.64 9.2 14.2 13.5 
			 Lambeth PCT 580,017 609,840 58,624 10.64 12.6 14.9 14.8 
			 Lewisham PCT 484,939 509,873 49,014 10.64 11.4 12.1 12.0 
			 Newham PCT 510,371 536,897 51,869 10.69 -3.2 2.9 0.9 
			 Redbridge PCT 365,515 385,618 39,159 11.30 0.6 -1.4 -1.1 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 267,442 281,193 27,031 10.64 13.0 23.8 23.4 
			 Southwark PCT 492,748 518,084 49,803 10.64 3.2 6.4 5.7 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 583,188 613,174 58,944 10.64 4.6 10.0 9.7 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 447,591 470,605 45,239 10.64 -3.5 5.3 3.4 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 395,510 415,846 39,977 10.64 0.8 1.9 2.2 
			 Wandsworth PCT 488,965 514,106 49,421 10.64 11.9 14.8 14.4 
			 Westminster PCT 447,789 470,813 45,259 10.64 11.6 22.7 20.8 
			 
			 London SHA 13,224,724 13,906,867 1,340,815 10.7
			 England 80,030,703 84,432,392 8,573,905 11.30

Medical Records: Databases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 239W, on NHS: data protection, which companies have had access to NHS patient information in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department has published clear rules and standards of practice on the management of patient information. These apply both to staff who work within, and those who work under contract to, national health service bodies.

Mental Health Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 368-69W, on assertive outreach teams, what the reasons are for the reduction in the number of assertive outreach teams in  (a) England and  (b) the South West Strategic Health Authority area since January 2006;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on the provision of assertive outreach teams in  (a) England,  (b) the South West and  (c) Devon in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The public service agreement target for assertive outreach teams was to have 220 teams by December 2003, and was met. The reduction in team numbers since 2006 has been minimal at both national and strategic health authority (SHA) level. Nationally, the number of teams was 252 in 2006 and 249 in 2008. The corresponding figures for South West SHA were 29 in 2006 and 28 in 2008. Primary care trusts are responsible for ensuring that the number of teams commissioned meets local need.
	The information on local services is not collected centrally in the format requested. However, the data in the following table shows the total investment for England and the South West region for assertive outreach teams from 2001-02 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Assertive outreach teams, total cash investment from 2001-02 to 2007-08 
			   England ( million)  South West region () 
			 2001-02 48.4 5,397 
			 2002-03 62.2 5,782 
			 2003-04 78.2 7,442 
			 2004-05 95.2 8,499 
			 2005-06 101.4 8,759 
			 2006-07 108.5 10,448 
			 2007-08 124.9 10,440 
			  Source: Mental Health Strategies.

Mental Health Services: Nurses

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1762-4W, on mental health services: nurses, what the reason is for the reduction in the number of registered mental health nurses in the Devon Partnership NHS Trust since 30 September 2006.

Phil Hope: Work force planning is a matter for local determination as local work force planners are best placed to assess the health care needs of their local population. The Department continues to ensure the frameworks are in place to enable effective local work force planning.

Out of Area Treatment: Wales

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 901W, on out of area treatment: Wales, whether the protocol to have effect from April 2009 will be a renewal of the existing temporary protocol; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have agreed a revised protocol for cross-border health services with effect from 1 April 200931 March 2011. This replaces the interim protocol on cross-border commissioning.

Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 251W, on social care: research, whether the research being undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit to make projections of likely future demand for long-term care has been completed.

Phil Hope: The personal social services unit (PSSRU) is currently in the early stages of producing a report detailing the results around the projections of likely future demand for long-term care. We expect PSSRU to publish this report within the next few months.

Social Services: National Skills Academies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1236W, whether the Social Care Skills Academy is operational.

Phil Hope: The National Skills Academy for Social Care is currently involving a broad array of sector employers and people who use services to ensure its programmes and activities meet the needs and expectations of those who will benefit most from its creation. It has recently appointed a permanent director and is currently rolling out its first programmes. The Skills Academy is expected to be fully operational by autumn 2009.

St. Helena: Politics and Government

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 40WS, on St. Helena, when he expects the consultation on access arrangements for the island of St. Helena to conclude; if he will publish all submissions the consultation receives; and if he will make an oral statement to the House as soon as possible after conclusion of the consultation.

Michael Foster: The consultation starts in April. The deadline for responses is 31 July. In line with the Government's 'Code of Practice on Consultation', we plan to publish a report within three months of the close of the consultation. This will summarise the responses received and explain how the consultation will influence policy development. The Secretary of State for International Development will make his decision once he has considered the report.

Washington

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which airline was used by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Malik) for his visit to Washington from 25 to 26 October 2007, as listed in the Cabinet Office's list of overseas travel by Ministers undertaken between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008; what class his ticket was; how much the flight cost; what accommodation he used; how much it cost; who accompanied him; what official engagements he undertook on his visit; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Details of Ministers' travel are published annually in the Cabinet Office publication Overseas Travel by Ministers. The most recent version is available in the Library of the House and online at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/propriety_and_ethics/assets/travel_2007_2008.pdf

Balkans: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what level of funding will be provided for conflict prevention work in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We plan to fund some 6.5 million of conflict prevention project work in the Western Balkans from the Wider Europe Conflict Prevention Fund in 2009-10. I have covered this further in my letter of 25 March 2009 to the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Balkans: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what a reduced level of commitment to EU and OSCE operations in the Balkans and the Caucasus will entail; how much funding is required for this reduced level of commitment; how much funding was originally planned under the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 18WS.
	The UK will continue to support the work of EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe missions in the Balkans and south Caucasus. Details of the prioritisation of our commitments are set out in my letter to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee of 25 March 2009, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

British Council: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, how much expenditure  (a) in which countries and  (b) on what programmes he expects the British Council to incur under its Reconnect Programme in 2008-09.

Caroline Flint: The British Council's Reconnect programme for 2008-09 focussed on youth leadership programmes within countries in its priority regions of the middle east, near east and north Africa as well as parts of its central and south Asia and east Asia regions.
	The individual programmes are: Global Changemakers, Active Citizens, Global Exchange, Leadership in Community Development, Women at Work and the Springboard Programme. The total spend for these programmes in 2008-09 is forecasted at just over 2 million which constitutes 1 million of the British Council's Reconnect funding supplemented by additional funding from the British Council's grant in aid funding.

Colombia: Military Aid

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 40-2WS, on Colombia, what plans there are for future UK bilateral counter-narcotics assistance to the Colombian security forces.

Gillian Merron: We do not divulge the details of our counter-narcotics work in Colombia, including costs, because of the risk to the people concerned. The parliamentary ombudsman has upheld this approach.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the breakdown is of the costs incurred under each peacekeeping mission to which the UK is committed; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Based on our calculations, in 2008-09 we estimate that the UK's share of assessed costs to individual missions paid for from within conflict resources will be as follows:
	
		
			
			 UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) 18,297,738 
			 UN Operation in Cte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) 19,968,022 
			 UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) 49,272,772 
			 UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) 1,334,652 
			 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) 25,323,581 
			 UN African Union: UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) 64,197,346 
			 UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 30,070,770 
			 UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) 1,392,357 
			 UN Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) 6,008,093 
			 UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) 1,462,365 
			 UN Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) 1,834,559 
			 UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 24,201,172 
			 UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 7,480,504 
			 UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 28,307,578 
			 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) 1,764,832 
			 UN International Criminal Court 5,463,876 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 5,403,725 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia 7,145,468 
			 UN/AU UN Logistical Support to African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) 1,960,880 
			 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe field missions 9,633,681 
			 EU Common Foreign and Security 15,100,000 
			 EU Force in Chad (EUFOR) 6,647,350 
			 EU NAVFOR Atalanta 340,466 
			 Total 332,611,787 
		
	
	We have budgeted for 456 million for assessed costs in 2009-10. As most of these costs are yet to be agreed in the relevant international forum, we do not yet have reliable estimates for individual missions.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what estimate has been made of the effect on the costs to the Government of its commitments to international institutions caused by the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The projected increase in the UK's assessed peacekeeping contributions in 2009-10 is the result of both an increase in peacekeeping activity international and the fall in the value of sterling against the US dollar and the euro.
	The impact of exchange rate changes in financial year 2008-09 has been partly offset by the effects of forward purchasing our foreign currency requirement.
	We have earmarked 456 million for assessed costs in 2009-10. However, this remains a projection as UN peacekeeping costs are still to be negotiated by the UN General Assembly for 2009-10, and future UN peacekeeping activity remains subject to decisions by the UN Security Council. We cannot provide an accurate estimate of the additional costs caused by the fall in the value of sterling rather than through the expansion of international peacekeeping missions until the budgets for each of the individual missions are agreed and payments made.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what proportion of the additional 71 million for conflict prevention, stabilisation and discretionary funding will be met by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Department for International Development and  (c) the Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Of the additional 71 million to be provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for International Development (DFID) for discretionary conflict activity (conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping), 15 million (21 per cent.) has been provided by the FCO, 22.5 million (32 per cent.) by the MOD and 33.5 million (47 per cent.) by DFID.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the allocation for South Asia and Afghanistan was before the revision announced in the Statement.

David Miliband: The final budgets contained within the written ministerial statement are the original and only allocation figures for South Asia and Afghanistan for financial year 2009-10.
	South Asia and Afghanistan received 56.4 million in 2008-09 and has been allocated 61.3 million for 2009-10.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what proportion of the additional 71 million to be provided for peacekeeping activities by his Department, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence will be drawn from his Department's budget.

David Miliband: Of the additional 71 million to be provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for International Development (DfID) for discretionary conflict activity (conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping), 15 million (21 per cent.) has been provided by the FCO, 22.5 million (32 per cent.) by the MOD and 33.5 million (47 per cent.) by DflD.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on economic situation, what expenditure was incurred under what budgetary headings his Department incurred on its seminar on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Africa Economic Outlook held in June 2008.

Gillian Merron: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Africa Economic Outlook seminar helps inform Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff about economic developments in Africa and is also a valuable part of the UK's extensive links with the OECD.
	The total cost of the seminar was 123.74, to provide refreshments for the participants and guest speakers from the OECD's Development Centre. This was met from the FCO's Global Economy Group's administrative budget.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its Global Economy Group internal seminar held in October 2008.

Caroline Flint: The lunchtime seminar on risks facing emerging market economies in the financial crisis cost 270.36. All costs were associated with catering provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's standard internal caterers.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its bi-annual conference for its economic officers held in December 2008.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Economic Officers conference is held bi-annually.
	The budget for this year's conference was set at 35,000 with 120 officials attending. The actual spend as of 30 March 2009 was 23,238 and final spend is expected to be within the budget.
	Two thirds of the budget for the conference was to provide a contribution to officials' airfares. The remainder was allocated to catering and audio equipment hire.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what the expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its seminar on Global economics crisis: challenges and opportunities for Europe held in Budapest in February.

Gillian Merron: The Department incurred a total expenditure of 1,464 for this seminar under the following budgetary headings:
	
		
			
			 Language Interpretation 315 
			 Conference Audio Visual Services 227 
			 Photographer 85 
			 Banners 38 
			 Graphic Design 136 
			 Stationery 663

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-7W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its conference for climate and energy attachs held on 26 and 27 February 2009.

Caroline Flint: The conference held on 26 to 27 February 2009 succeeded in allowing our Diplomats based throughout the world to engage directly with policy makers in Whitehall, non-governmental organisations and key business stakeholders so as to improve their effectiveness in representing the UK overseas. Over 150 people attended this event which is held annually. Final costs are contingent on claims for subsistence some of which are yet to be received. But anticipated final costs break down as follows:
	
		
			   Anticipated final costs () 
			 Conference facilities including the hire of audio equipment and catering 7,587.75 
			 Cost of hotels and subsistence for delegates 26,683.75 
			 Cost of flights for delegates 19,119.34 
			 Total costs 53,390.84 
		
	
	Costs are incurred under the administration budget line for the global and economic issues directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 843-44W, on departmental public expenditure, from which budgets the additional funds required by overseas posts to maintain the purchasing power of their local budgets in 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be drawn; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The additional funds required by overseas posts to maintain the purchasing power, are allocated from the overall Foreign and Commonwealth Office's budget and supplemented by the benefits of forward purchase of foreign currencies.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, column 843W, on the Diplomatic Service, what progress his Department has made towards its commitment in recruiting a talented and diverse workforce which reflects the society it serves at each pay band level.

Gillian Merron: The following table shows percentages of staff being paid via the FCO payroll split in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability and pay band.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  FCO pay band  As of 1 April 2006  As of 1 April 2007  As of 1 April 2008 
			  Band A
			 Female Staff 56.5 55.7 56.4 
			 Minority Ethnic 11.9 18 19.3 
			 Disabled 5.1 7.5 7.2 
			 
			  Band B
			 Female Staff 52 50.4 49.9 
			 Minority Ethnic 8.1 10.5 10.4 
			 Disabled 2.9 3.8 3.8 
			 
			  Band C
			 Female Staff 33.4 33.3 33 
			 Minority Ethnic 3.1 4.6 5 
			 Disabled 2.4 3.6 3.4 
			 
			  Band D
			 Female Staff 30.6 31.3 32.1 
			 Minority Ethnic 2.2 3.2 3 
			 Disabled 2.4 3.1 3.3 
			 
			  SMS
			 Female Staff 16.4 17.3 19.4 
			 Minority Ethnic 2 2.9 3.7 
			 Disabled 1.6 2.9 2.4 
		
	
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has developed a range of initiatives launched at various levels of the organisation in order to recruit a more talented and diverse work force.
	For example, since November 2006 we have implemented an undergraduate work experience programme designed to promote ethnic diversity and social inclusion, as well as taking part in Cabinet Office-led internships for students from ethnic minority backgrounds and for students with registered disabilities.
	Since September 2007 we have opened up all of our Senior Management Structure jobs to candidates from across Whitehall.
	In addition, in 2007 we organised an external recruitment campaign at Band D level, targeted at a diverse range of individuals from backgrounds outside of the FCO with the skills we require.

Iraq: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, how much of the planned expenditure in the Middle East in 2009-10 has been allocated to stabilisation activities in Iraq.

David Miliband: Of the 18 million assigned to the Middle East North Africa Programme for 2009-10, 13.1 million will be spent on stabilisation activities in Iraq.
	Stabilisation activities there will focus on support for security sector reform by building Iraqi police and judiciary capabilities in forensics and investigations techniques across the country; fostering economic growth, investment and job opportunities in the Basra region; developing the capacity of the Council of Representatives; and reconciliation initiatives.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 2 December 2008 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Ms Margaret Harrison of Chelmsford.

Caroline Flint: My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for South East Asia replied to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford's (Mr. Burns) letter on 31 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter to him of 19 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mrs Amtar Rashid.

David Miliband: I replied to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter on 5 April 2009.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question 258643, on arms trade: exports, tabled on 24 February 2009.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1114W. The delay in replying was due to an administrative error.